What happened to Athletico-PR's stadium debt? Find out | OneFootball

The debt of Athletico-PR for the renovation of Arena da Baixada for the 2014 World Cup reached around R$ 1.2 billion before a new negotiation reorganized the liability, according to lawyer Luiz Fernando Casagrande Pereira, who represents the club in the case.

RTI Esporte Agency learned that the renegotiation reshaped Athletico-PR’s liability, after years of deadlock over construction costs and the division of responsibilities, and established a long-term payment plan.

According to Luiz Fernando Casagrande Pereira, the agreement set the liability at around R$ 600 million, in addition to approximately R$ 100 million involving Curitiba and Athletico-PR, with participation from the Paraná state government.

World Cup renovation increased the obligation

Arena da Baixada was modernized to host matches in the 2014 World Cup. The increase in construction expenses, however, sparked discussions over who should bear the costs and how the payments would be made.

The original agreement involved Athletico-PR, the Curitiba City Hall, and the Paraná state government. Over the years, updated amounts and legal hurdles caused the liability to grow, increasing the scale of the financial dispute.

The situation began to change in November 2022. A document signed by then-mayor Rafael Greca and president Mario Celso Petraglia paved the way for a new payment structure and the reorganization of the obligations.

Athletico-PR has already paid R$ 241.3 million

Since the renegotiation, Athletico-PR has already paid out R$ 241.3 million in down payment, installments, and legal fees. The first payment was R$ 50 million in 2023. In 2024, for example, the club paid R$ 67.6 million.

The following year, it paid R$ 67.5 million and, in 2026, R$ 40.7 million, in addition to R$ 23.4 million in legal fees. According to Luiz Fernando Casagrande Pereira, the renegotiation commitments are being paid on schedule.

The Paraná club’s debt was divided into 15 decreasing annual installments of around R$ 62 million. Of that amount, approximately R$ 20 million is tied to the development rights of the red-and-black stadium.

Club still seeks alternatives for Arena da Baixada

Despite the reorganization, Athletico-PR still needs to manage some points related to the agreement. The sale of the development rights depends on market conditions, which may require alternatives to ensure greater predictability for future payments.

One of the possibilities under discussion involves the use of court-ordered government debts in place of the stadium’s development rights. The measure could provide greater security for the financial structure of the upcoming installments.

The club also expects to receive more than R$ 26 million related to the Arena’s former naming rights deal. According to the lawyer, the funds could help pay the next installment предусмотрed in the agreement.

According to Luiz Fernando Casagrande Pereira, the debt has been accounted for in Athletico-PR’s budget. The R$ 1.2 billion liability was reorganized, with defined annual installments and more than R$ 240 million already paid.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.